Answers by Dr. Mitchell Gossman, an ophthalmologist at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota, located in St. Cloud
What’s the difference between farsighted and nearsighted?
I’ll answer those questions, and more…
1. Nearsightedness
When a doctor or dispenser of glasses says “you’re near-sighted,” it can be confusing. Does this mean that you need glasses to see at near? Or does it mean you need glasses to see far? Does it mean you can see at near without glasses? Or what?
“Near-sighted” refers to your situation when you don’t have glasses on. This means that your eyes are naturally focused up close (can be any distance at all, from a few feet away all the way to the tip of your nose). Therefore, you can’t see anything clearly beyond this distance, and you’ll have to wear glasses to see far.
2. Farsightedness
Now that you know “nearsighted” means you can see near without glasses, you might assume that “farsighted” means you can see far without glasses. Almost true. “Farsighted” means that there is some correction, large or small, required to see distant objects. The reason it’s called “farsighted” is that such patients generally see better far without glasses on than when they see things closer. So, this term still describes where the vision is clearest without glasses on. But it gets more complex than that, see number 3.
3. Emmetropia
If you have absolutely no need for glasses to see distant objects, that means that you are “emmetropic.” It’s derived from Greek, and means “well-proportioned sight”. This, therefore, is the ultimate in “farsightedness,” but it means the specific case where the glasses correction is zero, “window-glass.”
4. Presbyopia
If you see well in the distance, either without glasses or with them, but can’t focus up close without glasses or with your distance glasses on, you are “presbyopic,” that condition that everyone develops in your 40s and begin needing reading glasses or bifocals. It’s Greek for “old eyes.” Sorry, I didn’t name this condition.
Find out more
Dr. Mitchell Gossman is a comprehensive ophthalmologist, along with Dr. Melanie Thares, an optometrist, at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota. The office is located at 628 Roosevelt Road, Suite 101, in St. Cloud. To make an appointment or to learn more, call 320-774-3789 or email info@eaofcm.com.
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